She could make neither head nor tail of it, nor wasthere another word to give a clue to its meaning,so at last from constant repetition it becamea commonplace and she gave it no further thought.

The girl had given up hope that Bulan ever couldrecover, so weak and emaciated had he become,and when the fever finally left him quite suddenlyshe was positive that it was the beginning of the end.It sometimes was on the evening of the seventh day since theyhad commenced their wandering in search of the long-housethat, as she sat watching him, she saw his eyes restingupon her face with a look of recognition.

Gently she took his arm, and at the act he chuckledat her very weakly.

"You are much better, Bulan," she said. "You have been somewhat sick,but now you shall soon be well again."

She did not believe her own words, yet the mere sayingof them gave her renewed hope.

"Yes," said in reply the man. "I shall soon be well again.How long have I been like this?"